Even though the overall size of the plaque in the heart’s main artery didn’t change in mice without FFAR4 after 16 weeks, the dead-cell core inside got much bigger — meaning the plaque became more dangerous even if it didn’t grow.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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FFAR4 Deficiency Increases Necrotic Cores in Advanced Lesions of ApoE−/− Mice—Brief Report

Cohort Study

Animal

2025 May

Even though the overall plaque size in the arteries didn’t change when FFAR4 was missing, the dangerous, dead-cell center inside the plaques got much bigger — which is exactly what the claim says.

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Source Study

FFAR4 Deficiency Increases Necrotic Cores in Advanced Lesions of ApoE−/− Mice—Brief Report

Score: 9

DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.322371

Similar Assertions

After eating a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, male and female mice without FFAR4 had smaller artery plaques in the aortic sinus, but not in the aortic arch — suggesting FFAR4 might affect early plaque growth differently.

95%

When mice lack a specific receptor called FFAR4 and eat a high-fat diet, their artery plaques develop bigger dead-cell areas inside, which makes the plaques more dangerous.

94%

Male mice without the FFAR4 receptor develop bigger artery plaques in one specific area (the aortic arch) after eating a high-fat diet for 16 weeks, but female mice don't show this difference.

89%

Mice without FFAR4 develop plaques with bigger dead-cell cores as their disease gets worse, which might mean FFAR4 helps keep plaques from becoming dangerous.

73%